Israeli Winemaker Shiri Rosenthal Crafts Unique Blended Wines from Jerusalem Hills to Golan
Shiri Rosenthal, owner of the small Blends winery in the moshav of Olesh in the Emek Hefer region, produces distinctive wines by fermenting and aging grape varieties together rather than separately, an uncommon practice in winemaking. Rosenthal describes her wines as feminine, with delicate work and emotional intelligence, emphasizing intuition in her decisions. Her portfolio includes six wines: red blends of Marselan and Syrah, white blends of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and French Colombard, and two rosés, including a unique "Rose Noir" made from Syrah and Carignan grapes. The grapes are sourced from vineyards across the Jerusalem Hills, Upper Galilee, and Golan Heights, resulting in light, enjoyable wines.
Rosenthal's journey into winemaking began during her biotechnology studies at Tel-Hai Academic College, where a course with Professor Martin Goldway inspired her passion for wine. She started as an assistant winemaker at the Ramat HaGolan experimental winery in 2006, later earning a master's degree in winemaking from the University of Adelaide in Australia. She gained international experience working harvest seasons in Australia and New Zealand and at the prestigious Opus One winery in California.
After returning to Israel, Rosenthal worked at Ramat HaGolan Winery as a winemaker, took a break for family, then resumed at Barkan Winery and other facilities. She currently produces about 7,000 bottles annually, aiming to increase to 10,000-20,000 bottles and eventually establish her own winery. Recently, she planted her first vineyard in Mesilat Zion. Her wines are available online and in select Tel Aviv stores.
Among her offerings are the "Kakadu White 2025," a Sauvignon Blanc and French Colombard blend with tropical notes priced at 120 shekels; the "Rose Blend Sadeh 2025," a light rosé mainly from Malbec grapes with hints of Campari and grapefruit for 100 shekels; and the "Syrah Bar Giora 2025," a refreshing red with red fruit aromas recommended to be served chilled, also priced at 120 shekels. Rosenthal credits winemaking with helping her cope with personal hardships and ongoing regional conflicts, describing the winery and harvest as places of sanity and refuge.
